HNA Technology Investments Holdings

Last updated

HNA Technology Investments Holdings
FormerlyAdvanced Card Systems Holdings
Company type Public
SEHK:  2086
PredecessorAdvanced Card Systems
Founded
1995 in Hong Kong(predecessor)
2003 in Cayman Islands
HeadquartersHong Kong
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Tong Fu (chairman)
Products Smart cards
Brands
  • ACS
  • HNA Tech Inv
RevenueIncrease2.svg HK$182.272 million (2017)
Increase2.svg HK$005.689 million (2017)
Total assets Steady2.svg HK$181.743 million (2017)
Total equity Increase2.svg HK$153.701 million (2017)
OwnerHNA EcoTech Group (75%)
Parent HNA EcoTech Group
Subsidiaries
HNA Technology Investments(100%)
Advanced Card Systems(100%)
Website www.hnatechinv.com
Footnotes /references
in consolidated financial statement [1]

HNA Technology Investments Holdings Limited formerly known as Advanced Card Systems Holdings Limited is a Cayman Islands-incorporated offshore holding company. Its subsidiary, Advanced Card Systems Limited, was incorporated in British Hong Kong in 1995 by Denny Wong. In 2017, HNA Group, via HNA EcoTech Group and HNA EcoTech Group's subsidiary, acquired Advanced Card Systems Holdings as part of a reverse IPO.

Contents

ACS develops smart cards, smart card readers and related products, and distributes them to over one hundred countries. It was ranked by Frost & Sullivan as one of the world's top 3 suppliers and Asia Pacific's top supplier of PC-linked Smart Card Readers. [2] In 2010, 2014, and 2015, it was listed among Forbes Asia 's "Best Under a Billion", [3] a prestigious list of 200 top-performing companies with sales between US$5 million and US$1 billion, selected from publicly listed enterprises in Asia Pacific. [4]

History

Advanced Card Systems Holdings was acquired by HNA Group, via a subsidiary HNA EcoTech Group (Chinese :海航生态科技集团) in January 2017. [5] HNA Group owned more than a third of the share capital of HNA EcoTech Group. [1] Advanced Card Systems Holdings was renamed to HNA Technology Investments Holdings Limited in August 2017. [6]

Products and services

ACS develops and supplies smart card reading and writing devices, smart cards, and other related products categorized into the following product lines:

ACS products are certified and compliant with global and national industry standards. These standards include NFC Forum Certification; EMV Level 1 & 2; Visa payWave; MasterCard PayPass; American ExpressPay; Discover Zip; UnionPay QuickPass; Mondex; EMV CAP and VISA DPA; qPBOC and PBOC (the People's Bank of China); NETS (Singapore); CE; UL/CSA; U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC); VCCI (Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Information Technology Equipment); FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards); and Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). [7]

ACS also offers product customization services to meet customer specifications. These include custom branding on ACS smart card and reader products. [8]

ACS also provides end-to-end, smart card‒based services. ACS has already delivered automatic fare collection (AFC), retail, and micropayment services all over the world. [9]

Furthermore, ACS conducts consultation and training sessions to help grow the smart card industry. In 2008, ACS offered an elective course on smart card technology in De La Salle UniversityManila. [10] In 2010, it conducted the first ever basic smart card training in the Philippines. It also conducted a two-day training on smart cards in the Information Technology Services Center (ITSC) of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). [11]

Applications

System integrators, software developers and solution[ buzzword ] houses worldwide use ACS smart card and card reader technologies, to create smart card-based applications for security systems in various sectors, including banking, transportation, identification, e-health, e-government, access control and e-commerce. [12]

Banking

In 2009, ACS deployed 100,000 ACR38 Smart Card Readers for the implementation of an online home banking project in an East Asian country. The project involved ACS's cooperation with the country's local bank and telecommunication company, to integrate ACS smart card technologies into VoIP-enabled desktop phones that customers used to access online banking services at home. [13]

In 2009, ACS also received over 60,000 orders of ACR30 Smart Card Readers from Hong Kong banks. This banks were complying with the Hong Kong secure e-banking project, which entailed using the Hong Kong Identity Card. [14] Following Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) guidelines that took effect in July 2005, these banks employed two-factor authentication tools, like e-Cert, for high-risk online banking transactions. [15] The Bank of America (Asia), BOC Credit Card (International) Limited, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited, Nanyang Commercial Bank, Bank of Communications (Hong Kong Branch), The Bank of East Asia, CITIC Ka Wah Bank and Dah Sing Bank all used ACS's ACR30 to read smart ID cards embedded with Hong Kong Post e-Cert. [16]

Access control

In 2011, ACS was chosen as a smart card reader supplier for a solution intended to secure US embassies worldwide. The US Department of State (DoS) had initiated a tender for a reader to secure physical and logical networks for embassy employees. Partnered with one of the bidders, ACS proposed the ACR3801 Smart card reader, a TAA-compliant, FIPS 201‒certified PC-linked reader. These standards enabled the ACR3801 to meet the security challenges presented by the DoS. [17]

ACS also participated in the security enhancement project set up by the World Olympians Association (WOA) for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. ACS provided ACOS3 Microcontroller Smart Cards to identify around 4,000 guests, and ACR88 Handheld PIN-Pad Readers to read the smart cards. [14] ACS partnered with Artemis Solutions Group (ASG), which specialized in providing a complete credential management system for attendees of the Olympic Reunion Center (ORC). [18]

Transportation

In August 2009, ACS supplied ACR122 Near Field Communication (NFC) Readers for EZ-Link cardholders to manage their new EZ-Link cards at home. Via the EZ-Online System, cardholders can check and print their 20 most recent transaction records, top-up their cards from a bank account, and load EZ-Coupons that may be used to redeem bonuses once the Ez-Link cards are presented to retail shops. [19]

Government

In 2013, ACS was chosen by a Middle Eastern country's Ministry of Labour to supply smart card readers that will help make labour transactions paperless and performable outside government offices. ACS supplied the ACR89, which was distributed directly to organizations and installed in service centers throughout the country, so that they may be more conveniently accessed by company operators and owners. This accessibility, coupled with a secure authentication system, generated savings for both the government, and various companies and organizations; simplified processes; and improved records management. [20]

Also, over 100,000 ACS ACR38 Smart Card Readers were deployed during the pilot run of the project, "Belgian eID card reader for the 12-year-olds" in 2006. The decision to utilize ACS smart card readers was issued by the Federal Information and Communication Technology (FedICT) Department of the Belgian Government. [21]

In the same year, the Egyptian Government, began issuing smart taxation cards to taxpayers for security reasons. ACS's ACR100 SIMFlash Smart Card Readers were used to input, check and back-up transaction information of the taxpayers. [22]

eHealth

In 2008, ACS won a tender to supply 600,000 units of PC-linked contact smart card readers to the regional government of Lombardia, Italy. The readers were used for read and write operations on health cards used by Lombardian citizens, pharmacies, doctors, hospitals, etc., to access medical services, as well as online government services. [23]

Retails

In 2013, ACS was chosen as the primary technology partner of the Philippines' largest mall developer/operator and retail company for an end-to-end loyalty, payment, and automated fare collection (AFC) solution.[ buzzword ] ACS's scalable solution[ buzzword ] enabled faster and convenient transactions for mall visitors, while improving generation, accessibility, and management of transaction reports. [24]

In 2006, ACS's ACR120 contactless smart card readers were adopted by a high-end Japanese supermarket in Hong Kong for its customer loyalty program, which began transitioning from contact to contactless smart card technology in 2005. [25]

Meanwhile, ACS was selected to provide ACR122 contactless card readers to Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited (PCCW) Hong Kong in 2008. ACR 122 Octopus card readers were made available to be connected to PCCW's multimedia VoIP phone, thus allowing cardholders to check their card balance and their ten most recent transactions in the Hong Kong Octopus Card without the need for Octopus Enquiry Machines that are located in MTR stations only. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EFTPOS</span> Type of electronic payment system

Electronic funds transfer at point of sale is an electronic payment system involving electronic funds transfers based on the use of payment cards, such as debit cards or credit cards, at payment terminals located at points of sale. EFTPOS technology was developed during the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smart card</span> Pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits for identification or payment functions

A smart card (SC), chip card, or integrated circuit card, is a card used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) chip. Many smart cards include a pattern of metal contacts to electrically connect to the internal chip. Others are contactless, and some are both. Smart cards can provide personal identification, authentication, data storage, and application processing. Applications include identification, financial, public transit, computer security, schools, and healthcare. Smart cards may provide strong security authentication for single sign-on (SSO) within organizations. Numerous nations have deployed smart cards throughout their populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Octopus card</span> Stored value smart card in Hong Kong

The Octopus card is a reusable contactless stored value smart card for making electronic payments in online or offline systems in Hong Kong. Launched in September 1997 to collect fares for the territory's mass transit system, it has grown into a widely used system for transport and other retail transactions in Hong Kong. It is also used for purposes such as recording school attendance and permitting building access. The cards are used by 98 percent of the population of Hong Kong aged 15 to 64 and the system handles more than 15 million transactions, worth over HK$220 million, every day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EZ-Link</span> Contactless smart card used in Singapore

The EZ-Link card is a rechargeable contactless smart card and electronic money system that is primarily used as a payment method for public transport such as bus and rail lines in Singapore. A standard EZ-Link card is a credit-card-sized stored-value contact-less smart-card that comes in a variety of colours, as well as limited edition designs. It is sold by TransitLink Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and can be used on travel modes across Singapore, including the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), the Light Rail Transit (LRT), public buses which are operated by SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit Singapore and Go-Ahead Singapore, as well as the Sentosa Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MIFARE</span> Brand of smart and proximity cards

MIFARE is a series of integrated circuit (IC) chips used in contactless smart cards and proximity cards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Security token</span> Device used to access electronically restricted resource

A security token is a peripheral device used to gain access to an electronically restricted resource. The token is used in addition to, or in place of, a password. Examples of security tokens include wireless key cards used to open locked doors, a banking token used as a digital authenticator for signing in to online banking, or signing transactions such as wire transfers.

FeliCa is a contactless RFID smart card system from Sony in Japan, primarily used in electronic money cards. The name stands for Felicity Card. First utilized in the Octopus card system in Hong Kong, the technology is used in a variety of cards also in countries such as Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Macau, the Philippines and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Octopus Cards Limited</span>

Octopus Cards Limited is the operator of the Octopus rechargeable contactless smart card used in an electronic payment system in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhen Tong</span> Smart card system in Shenzhen, China

The Shenzhen Tong is a reusable contactless stored value smartcard used for electronic payments in public transportation and some other areas in Shenzhen city, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. It was developed by Shenzhen Modern Computer, the provider of automatic fare collection systems to Shenzhen Metro, with cooperation from Octopus Cards Limited, the operator of Hong Kong's Octopus cards system. It was first adopted by minibuses in Shenzhen, until the new system was introduced by Shenzhen Metro. The English name was originally TransCard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secure access module</span>

A Secure Access Module (SAM), also known as a Secure Application Module, is a piece of cryptographic hardware typically used by smart card card readers to perform mutual key authentication. SAMs can be used to manage access in a variety of contexts, such as public transport fare collection and point of sale devices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HID Global</span> American manufacturer

HID Global is an American manufacturer of secure identity products. The company is an independent brand of Assa Abloy, a Swedish door and access control conglomerate. Björn Lidefelt was appointed CEO on 27 January 2020. He succeeded Stefan Widing, who led HID Global for over four years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fares and ticketing on the Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)</span>

Rail operators are government-assisted profit-based corporations, fares and ticketing on Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system are aimed to break-even or exceed operating expenses. Rail operators collect fares based on account-based (ABT) and card-based ticketing options, the prices of which are calculated based on the distances travelled between the origin and destination. These prices increase in stages for standard non-concessionary travel, according to the distances travelled. In account-based ticketing, the fare is automatically calculated in the back-end and charged to the passenger post journey. On the other hand, card-based ticketing is proprietary to the transport network and the fare is computed by the system based on the store values recorded in the cards. The public transit system is harmonising towards full ABT.

A card reader is a data input device that reads data from a card-shaped storage medium and provides the data to a computer. Card readers can acquire data from a card via a number of methods, including: optical scanning of printed text or barcodes or holes on punched cards, electrical signals from connections made or interrupted by a card's punched holes or embedded circuitry, or electronic devices that can read plastic cards embedded with either a magnetic strip, computer chip, RFID chip, or another storage medium.

A contactless smart card is a contactless credential whose dimensions are credit card size. Its embedded integrated circuits can store data and communicate with a terminal via NFC. Commonplace uses include transit tickets, bank cards and passports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemalto</span> International digital security company

Gemalto was an international digital security company providing software applications, secure personal devices such as smart cards and tokens, e-wallets and managed services. It was formed in June 2006 by the merger of two companies, Axalto and Gemplus International. Gemalto N.V.'s revenue in 2018 was €2.969 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NETS (company)</span> Singaporean electronic payment service provider

Network for Electronic Transfers, colloquially known as NETS, is a Singaporean electronic payment service provider. Founded in 1986 by a consortium of local banks, it aims to establish the debit network and drive the adoption of electronic payments in Singapore. It is owned by DBS Bank, OCBC Bank and United Overseas Bank (UOB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Contactless payment</span> Technology enabling payment without physical contact

Contactless payment systems are credit cards and debit cards, key fobs, smart cards, or other devices, including smartphones and other mobile devices, that use radio-frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC) for making secure payments. The embedded integrated circuit chip and antenna enable consumers to wave their card, fob, or handheld device over a reader at the point-of-sale terminal. Contactless payments are made in close physical proximity, unlike other types of mobile payments which use broad-area cellular or Wi-Fi networks and do not involve close physical proximity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vix Technology</span> Australian electronics company

Vix Technology (Vix) is an Australian company that designs, supplies and operates automated fare collection (AFC) systems, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), access, payment and passenger information display systems (PIDS) for the public transit industry.

IDEX Biometrics ASA is a Norwegian biometrics company, specialising in fingerprint imaging and fingerprint recognition technology. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Oslo, but its main operation is in the US, with offices in New York and Massachusetts. The company also has offices in the UK and China.

On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTI) founded in 1990, is a global company that focuses on creating contactless payment solutions. OTI does this through the use of NFC technologies.

References

  1. 1 2 2017 Annual Report (PDF). HNA Technology Investments Holdings. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018 via Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing website.
  2. Frost & Sullivan (7 June 2010). "World Smart Card Readers and Chipsets Market". frost.com. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. "ACS Receives Award as One of Forbes Asia's Best Under a Billion 2015". 11 November 2015.
  4. "Forbes Asia's 200 Best Under A Billion". Forbes Asia. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  5. 海航再買殼 逾5億入主龍傑智能卡. Ming Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong: Media Chinese International. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  6. 龍傑智能卡控股有限公司通過更名為海航科技投資控股有限公司. 中時電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Want Want China Times Media Group. EQS Group. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  7. "INTERIM RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  8. "ACS Product Customization" . Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  9. "ACS Solutions" . Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  10. "ACS offers elective course in De La Salle University-Manila". 27 August 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  11. CardsNow!Asia (13 May 2009). "ACS Providing Smart Card Tech Training to CUHK". cardsnowasia.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  12. "ACS Typical Applications" . Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  13. "ACS Supplied 100,000 ACR38 Smart Card Readers for Online Home Banking Project in East Asia". globalsmart.com. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  14. 1 2 "Hong Kong banks using ACS smart card readers for two-factor authentication". secureidnews.com. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  15. "Hong Kong Monetary Authority To Require Two-Factor Authentication For Online Banking". paymentsnews.com. 30 May 2005. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  16. "ACS was chosen by World Olympians Association (WOA) to secure its events in 2008 Beijing Olympic". 22 September 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  17. "Securing US Embassies Worldwide with the ACR3801 for US Department of State". acs.com.hk. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  18. "Manage the new Singapore ez-link card at home with an ACR122 NFC Reader". morerfid.com. 18 August 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  19. "Beijing Olympic Reunion Center Access Secured With BioCert Encrypted Smart Card Technology and Portable Identity Verification". micardreader.com. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  20. "ACS's ACR89 Helps Streamline Labor-Related Processes in Middle Eastern Country=13 September 2013". acs.com.hk. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  21. "ACS' smart card reader chosen for Belgian ID card project". secureidnews.com. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  22. Frost & Sullivan (17 January 2007). "Movers & Shakers Interview with Mr. Denny Wong, Chairman and CEO, Advanced Card Systems Ltd". frost.com. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  23. "Business Review – For the year ended December 31, 2008". quamnet.com. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  24. "ACS Solution Helps Increase Convenience and Security in SM Prepaid and Loyalty Program". acs.com.hk. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  25. "ACS' Contactless Smart Card Reader is adopted by a high-end Japanese Supermarket for Loyalty Program". smartcardstrends.com. 4 July 2006. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  26. "Checking your Octopus card balance at home by ACR122 Octopus Card Reader". smartcardstrends.com. 6 March 2008. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2010.